FEI gives UAE a deadline to remedy “serious” endurance issues

The FEI has given the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until February 11 to come up with an agreement that will remedy what the world governing body calls serious issues in endurance in the region.

The FEI issued a statement early today from its endurance director, Manuel Bandeira de Mello, who is understood to be in the UAE.

It said the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) had postponed four endurance events in coming days “so that agreement can be reached on proposed measures to urgently address a number of serious issues in endurance in the region”.

The EEF’s calendar shows it has also postponed a fifth ride, a 100km ride restricted to private stables and individuals, set to be run in Dubai.

The four postponed events are the Rashidiyya Ladies Cup, which was to be run today; the Jumairah Endurance Cup for private owners, set for tomorrow; the Emirates Championship, scheduled for February 6; and the AlBarsha CEI 1* endurance ride on February 8.

The development comes amid ongoing controversy in the sport in the UAE.

Bandeira de Mello’s arrival in the region follows a meeting last week at FEI headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, with members of the EEF to discuss the endurance problems.

The FEI is hoping that the UAE will adopt rules similar to those adopted at Sheikh Sultan Al Nahyan’s endurance facility at Bouthieb in Abu Dhabi.

The local rules are designed to keep speeds, which are GPS-monitored, down to 20kmh. The majority of prize-money goes to the best-conditioned horses, judged on the accumulation of scores from each vet gate.

The results have been stunning, with only a handful of horses requiring moderate veterinary assistance among more than 1000 which have competed under the rules so far.

Bandeira de Mello said in today’s statement: “The FEI has set a deadline of 11 February for the EEF to come back with an agreement on the proposed measures.”

Last month, he acknowledged the six fatalities that had occurred in UAE endurance up to that point.

“It is abundantly clear,” he said, “that speed is a major factor in these incidents and that it is necessary to introduce measures to slow down the horses in order to reduce the number of catastrophic injuries.

“The FEI is in urgent discussions with the EEF and individual event organisers to introduce similar protocols to those used so successfully at the recent event in Bouthieb to reduce the speed.

“Clearly, the FEI views any equine fatality as an extremely serious issue and post mortems are always carried out to establish the cause of death.”

Bandeira de Mello said official vets were now eliminating more horses at the vet gates, meaning that the completion rates were lower, but this had not yet reduced the level of catastrophic injuries at national events.

The Bouthieb iniatives have the ability to remove the frenetic on-course activity seen in UAE endurance, with support crew members running on to the course with slosh bottles. This appears to be the result of the ongoing application of emergency crewing measures allowed under FEI rules, but intended only for extreme weather circumstances.

The Bouthieb rules have official watering points every kilometre, these being the only points where crewing is allowed. The final crewing point is 2.5km from the finish.

They also impose a limit of one car per trainer per five horses.

Endurance in the UAE has been the subject of controversy for years, with fast desert courses, jockey-style riders, and high stakes proving to be a problematic combination.

Problems around rule enforcement and welfare led to the FEI suspending the UAE from the world governing body last March.

A deal was announced a few months later in which the UAE promised to abide by FEI rules, during which it would be carefully monitored.

However, the FEI’s rules have yet to result in a meaninful reduction in fatalities, speeds are still too high, and fields continue to be followed by a fleet of crew support vehicles.

One thought on “FEI gives UAE a deadline to remedy “serious” endurance issues”

It would be the best if Mr. De Mello will stay in UAE for some races to check on them…and still they need a better education system as we saw in the last race junior cup…the Idols are the old riders…they see what they do…and do the same. The problem in UAE is that there is not a propper riding school and groom’s do all the work…grooming etc. I think before somebody can enter any Competition they need to get a Licenze like we have in Germany…either dressage, jumping, endurance or western where they have to show a judge 1. they are able to ride and controll a horse
2. they have knowledge about Horse health (feeding, sickness and so on)